Birthday!

We headed across the hill today for a lunch in celebration of a friend’s 80th birthday. Luckily, machines had been working all week to level the dirt road up past our house, a much shorter route, although still an hour and a half’s drive, so we took that. All went well and we arrived in good time (early, even, and that doesn’t happen very often). It was a super, happy occasion, lots of our favourite people, the couple’s two sons and a daughter-in-law had come from England, as well as friends from Portugal, São Paulo and other parts. The birthday boy was in great form, looking and sounding at least 10 years less than his age. The setting was lovely too – a herb farm, restaurant and pousada called Provence – with the herbs much in evidence in the delicious lunch.
 
We had intended to drive back home, but friends who have a small farm nearby invited us there for the night - the perfect end to a delightful day.